COLA

Counties Are Best Success Story

SEPTEMBER 2012 VOICE: When the Commonwealth’s 103 local retirement systems were released from the shackles of our restrictive $12,000 COLA base in Year 2010 a rare opportunity presented itself to the 103 retirement boards governing these systems.

In the two years (July 2011, July 2012) that have elapsed since the enabling legislation was enacted (Ch 188 Acts of 2010) a total of 39 retirement boards have been able to take advantage of this law.

3% State & Teacher COLA On $13k Base Included

JULY 9, 2012: On Sunday, Governor Patrick signed the $32.6 billion FY13 state budget into law. Contained within the budget is a new 3% State & Teacher COLA, a minimum survivor pension increase for disability retirees’ survivors and access to the Group Insurance Commission’s retiree dental plan for municipal retirees insured under the state plan.

Piece Fair But Incomplete Picture

June 18, 2012: As cities and states across the nation take aim at public employee pensions, Boston City Hall is engaged in a very different debate: how much to increase retirees’ checks.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino is proposing to boost the annual cost-of-living adjustment for most pensioners from $360 to $390, a $30 increase. City Council president Stephen J. Murphy is pushing for more, seeking a $90 increase over the current rate.

3% COLA Approved & GIC Rates Maintained

APRIL 25, 2012: This week, debate is underway in the House of Representatives over the Fiscal Year 2013 State Budget. The weeklong debate will consider over 850 amendments to the $32 billion budget proposal.

JANUARY 2012 VOICE: As clearly evident from the lead story, our Association is disappointed at the outcome of the latest installment of Pension Reform, which, we believe, saddles future employees with the debt created by past generations of government officials who failed to properly fund the government’s share of pension obligations. In addition to seeking fair and equitable treatment for future government workers, we also strongly advocated our position that existing benefit inequalities be addressed through Pension Reform III.

Senate Increases State & Teacher Base

NOVEMBER 2011 VOICE: Heeding our Association’s call to use “Pension Reform III” as an opportunity to address longstanding benefit inequities, the Senate passed a provision within their proposal (S2018) increasing the state & teacher retirees’ COLA base by $1,000 to a new $13,000.

COLA Base Increase & Retiree Benefits Included

NOVEMBER 4, 2011: Phase III of Pension Reform has now passed the House with a unanimous vote to further alter the public pension benefit structure for future employees. In addition to future benefit changes (affecting those first hired on or after July 1, 2012), the House plan seeks a series of benefit enhancements for current retirees.

Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families. Join with our 62,000 members as we continue the fight.